Mumbai's Kandivali Police cracked down on an illegal e-cigarette supply targeting minors, arresting two suspects after spotting Class 11 students vaping. Seizures worth Rs 1.16 lakh were made under the Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes Act, 2019
Police have seized 292 banned items, including e-cigarettes, e-liquids, and foreign cigarettes. PIC/BY SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
Mumbai Police have busted an illegal e-cigarette supply racket in Kandivali after minor students were found smoking banned electronic cigarettes, leading to the arrest of two accused and seizures of prohibited products worth Rs 1.16 lakh.
According to a Kandivali Police source, on March 2, a team led by Sub-inspector Shrikant Magar was patrolling in Iraniwadi, Kandivali West when the police personnel spotted a group of Class 11 students smoking e-cigarettes, which are banned in India under the Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes Act, 2019.
During questioning, the students told police that they had received the vaping devices from a friend identified as Manthan. Based on this information, the police traced another suspect, identified as Rohit Sabhajit Upadhyay, a resident of Kandivali West.
A search at Upadhyay’s residence led to the seizure of 131 banned e-cigarettes and refill e-liquid bottles of various companies worth Rs78,500.
Mumbai Police on lookout for more suspects in Kandivali e-cigarette racket
Following his interrogation, the police discovered the involvement of his associate Sarthak Pramod Agarwal. Police then raided Agarwal’s house and recovered 161 e-cigarettes and foreign-brand cigarettes worth Rs 38,280.
In total, the police seized 292 banned items, including e-cigarettes, e-liquids and foreign cigarettes, valued at Rs 1,16,780.
A case has been registered at Kandivali Police Station under sections of the Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes Act, 2019 and the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act, 2003.
"So far, two accused have been arrested, while police are continuing the investigation and searching for other suspects involved in the supply network," said Senior Inspector Karan Sonkawade of Kandivali Police Station.
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